fright

[ frahyt ]
/ fraɪt /

noun

sudden and extreme fear; a sudden terror.
a person or thing of shocking, grotesque, or ridiculous appearance.

verb (used with object)

to frighten.

Origin of fright

before 900; Middle English; Old English frytu, fyrhto; akin to German Furcht

OTHER WORDS FROM fright

self-fright·ed, adjective un·fright·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for fright

British Dictionary definitions for fright

fright
/ (fraɪt) /

noun

sudden intense fear or alarm
a sudden alarming shock
informal a horrifying, grotesque, or ludicrous person or thing she looks a fright in that hat
take fright to become frightened

verb

a poetic word for frighten

Word Origin for fright

Old English fryhto; related to Gothic faurhtei, Old Frisian fruchte, Old High German forhta